Improvement in portable coal-chutes



R.. R. HOOPE-S.

PQRTABLE coAL CHUTE.

Patented Dec. 7,1875.

PETERS PHO 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALSTON E. HOOPES, 0F WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT I PORTABLE COAL-CHUTES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,856., dated December 7, 1875; application led November l, 1875.

To `all whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1, RALsToN R. HooPEs, of -West Chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Portable Goal-Chute, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to make a cheap, simple, and portable device for directing coal into cellars, in such a manner that during the operation there can be no soiling of the pavement and front of the dwelling by the coal. This object I attain in the manner which I will now proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in Which- Figure l is a side view, partly in section, of my coal-chute; and Fig. 2, a transverse section on the line l 2.

The coalchute consists of a box, A, closed on all sides, and open at its opposite ends. To the edges of the mouth a of the chute is adapted a door, B, which is hinged at a', and which, when elevated, as shown in the drawing, bears against a projection, b, and acts as a shield to prevent the particles of coal and coal-dust from reaching and soiling the front ofthe house, the said projection b being, in the present instance, a continuation of the rear of the mouth of the chute.

When a chute is arranged for transportation in the coal-wagon the door may be depressed, so as to close, or nearly close, the mouth of the chute. On each side of the chute is a leg, D, through a slot near the upper end of which passes the stem of a thumb-screw, d, into the side of the chute, the slots of the two legs permittin g such a vertical adjustment ofthe said chute that its mouth may be in a convenient position for receiving the coal as it is brought from the wagon in the usual baskets, or as it is shoveled direct from the wagon. The thumbscrews also permit the adjustment of the legs to the position shown by dotted lines, thereby rendering the chute more compact for transportation.

On the under -side of the chute are transverse ribs c, any one of' which maybe brought to bear against the sill of the cellar-window, through which the discharge end of the chute projects, thereby steadily retaining the said chute in proper position.

I prefer to make the discharge end of the chute with an upper projecting portion, m, and

to suspend from the same a loose apron, m',

which will prevent the dissemination of coaldust through the cellar.

A permanent shield, for protecting the front of' the house from coal-dust, may b substituted for the hinged lid B; but I prefer the latter, as it can be turned down over the mouth, thereby rendering the same more compact for transportation.

I claim as my invention- The within-described portable coal-chute, consisting' of a box, A, having a shield or door, B, adjustable legs D, and otherwise constructed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

` RALSTON R. HOOPES. Witnesses:

EDWARD S. LoWEY, HARRY SMITH. 

